How it works

The surfaces of the processed implants have been examined by a number of different techniques, the first of these being Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM.

Figure 2 x200 magnification SEM image of implant surface

Figure 2 shows that the surface is coated by a uniform hard anodised film which is responsible for the shiny violet appearance of the implant. One can also see however what appear to be small circular blemishes distributed over the surface, and lines which are polishing marks left behind after manufacture of the implant itself.

Figure 3 x2000 SEM image of surface of processed implant

Higher magnification SEM images, show that these blemishes are actually circular features, about 5 μm in diameter, in which metal has been converted to a second phase which has filled the hole in the metal surface with what appears to be an amorphous material. It is into these 'reservoirs' that the bulk of ionic silver has been absorbed

Figure 4 A depth profile of atomic percentages produced by Secondary Neutrals Mass Spectrometry (SNMS)

Analysis of the depth profile of the reservoirs using SNMS methods shows that silver is present in the surface area of the implant to a depth of approximately 1 μm. This technique also demonstrates and confirms that the Agluna™ process produces surface modification incorporating ionic silver, rather than a coating such as would have been produced by electroplating techniques.

Figure 5 Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum of "reservoir" in the surface of a processed implant

Elemental analysis of the area of the reservoir areas using EDX techniques shows that some of the titanium metal has been turned into an oxide and a phosphate phase during the anodisation process. These materials have thensubsequently absorbed silver by ion exchange  when the implant has been placed in an aqueous solution of silver salts.